Armand hammers “pathetic” Crawley
ARMAND Gnanduillet was Leyton Orient’s twogoal hero, but player-manager Kevin Nolan revealed his star’s display was all the more impressive with the 24year-old having endured a torrid week.
Gnanduillet’s goal from nothing gave the O’s the lead before half-time, and he doubled the lead early in the second half with a routine volley enough to earn Nolan’s men their second win in a row.
But after their first triumph at Brisbane Road since the end of January Nolan was quick to praise his side, with Gnanduillet, who joined the O’s last month from Chesterfield, getting a special mention.
“I’m delighted for Arnie, he’s had a bit of bad news this week, but he’s come in and we’ve all got round him,” he said.
“So for him to put in a performance like he did was fantastic for him and the team.
“I didn’t really want to mention it, but I think it’s worth mentioning because he’s had a tough week and he put in a fantastic performance.
“I asked for a performance and I think we got it. The lads have been magnificent since I’ve come in, and I’m absolutely delighted with the way we’ve responded.”
Paul Jones was forced into action on 20 minutes as League Two topgoalscorer Jay Simpson tested him from inside the box, with the game’s first shot on target. Minutes before half-time Gnan- duillet scored an outstanding solo goal from nothing. The striker took a touch to the left, 25-yards out, before rifling a shot into the topleft corner.
Nolan should have doubled the lead early in the second half, but instead lifted the ball over from close range.
Gnanduillet got his and the O’s second just after the hour mark, when the lively Sean Clohessy found the striker unmarked at the back post for a simple volley back across goal.
It took Crawley until the second half to register a shot on goal, which epitomised their weak display and left manager Mark Yates apoligising to fans after the game.
He said:“I’d like to apologise to our fans because we were pathetic.
“I said after 15 minutes of the game I thought we were waiting to get beat, and I didn’t think were anything special in the first half.
“We tried to liven the group up at half-time and the reaction was pathetic and we’ve made them look like Barcelona, and we were the making of our own downfall.
“There was no aggression, we weren’t competitive enough, we got pushed aside too easily and I just felt we were waiting to get beat, and that disappoints me, we now need a big reaction on Tuesday night.”